How are mumps outbreaks controlled?

Mumps is the only known cause of epidemic parotitis. The main strategy for controlling a mumps outbreak is to define the at-risk population and setting of transmission, and rapidly to identify and vaccinate susceptible persons or, if a contraindication exists, to exclude susceptible persons from the setting to prevent exposure and transmission. Mumps vaccine, preferably as MMR, should be administered to susceptible persons. Although mumps vaccination has not been shown to be effective in preventing mumps in persons already infected, it will prevent infection in those persons who are not infected. If susceptible persons can be vaccinated early in the course of an outbreak, they can be protected. However, cases are expected to continue to occur among newly vaccinated persons who are already infected for at least 3 weeks following vaccination because of the long incubation period for mumps. As with all vaccines, the effectiveness of mumps vaccine is not 100%; therefore, a second dose of ...  more